Kentucky Trout Waters 2003

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

#1 Game Farm Road

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

C. Tom Bennett, Commissioner

This guide is an accurate summary of the laws regarding trout fishing intended solely for information use. It is not a reprint of any referenced statute (KRS) or regulation (KAR) in its entirety and should not be used as such.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and boating registration. It receives no general fund tax dollars.

If you feel you have been discriminated against by this department, contact the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Game Farm Road, Frankfort, KY 40601: phone 1-800-858-1549 or (502) 564-4336.

The streams listed below are stocked with rainbow trout once each month by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), beginning in April and continuing through the month indicated. Brown trout are released once each year for a put-grow-take fishery. All trout are produced at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery.

* Plus an October stocking

** No August stocking

*** No April stocking

****Plus September and October stocking

The following streams, located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, are stocked with rainbow trout by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and with brown trout by the KDFWR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is a tentative schedule. Exact dates and times of stocking are not announced.

*No July and August stocking

** Plus an October stocking

+ October and November stocking

++ October stocking only

The following streams are stocked in October and have a catch-and-release season (no harvest) from October 1-March 31: Rock Creek in McCreary Co. (from Bell Farm Bridge upstream to Tennessee state line), Bark Camp Creek in Whitley Co., Cane Creek in Laurel Co., East Fork Indian Creek in Menifee Co., Otter Creek in Meade Co. (Ft. Knox Military Reservation and Otter Creek Park), Swift Camp Creek in Clifty Creek Wilderness Area in Wolfe Co., Left Fork Beaver Creek from Hwy. 122 bridge upstream in Floyd Co., Casey Creek in Trigg Co., and Lick Creek in Simpson Co. Only artificial flies and lures may be used during this time. All trout caught during these months must be returned immediately to the waters where they were caught. Statewide regulations apply April through September.

The following tailwaters receive rainbow and brown trout. Stocking begins in spring and continues into late fall; monthly totals will vary. Monthly schedules are available through the Department.

The lakes below are stocked with rainbow trout in the months indicated.

Little West Fork and Fletchers Fork on Fort Campbell (Tennessee portion) and Otter Creek on Fort Knox (Bullitt, Meade and Hardin counties) military reservations are stocked with rainbow or brown trout. Special fishing regulations apply and a post fishing permit is required in addition to a valid Kentucky fishing license and trout permit. Contact Community Recreation Division, Hunting and Fishing Unit, Fort Campbell, KY 42223-5000; phone (270) 798-2175 or hunt control office, Fort Knox, KY 40121, (502) 624-2712.

Complete fishing regulations can be found in the Kentucky Sport Fishing & Boating Guide 2003.

A trout permit ($10.00) and fishing license is required for anglers who want to keep the trout they catch. The permit may be purchased from the KDFWR or any license agent. Those not required to purchase a trout permit are landowners, tenants and their spouses and dependent children when fishing on their own land, persons under 16 years of age, and persons holding a senior/disabled license.

Revenue from the sale of trout permits is used to help finance the stocking of trout from Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery into Kentucky streams and lakes.

Brown trout: 12-inch size limit.*

Rainbow and brown trout: combined daily and possession limit is eight, of which no more than 3 may be brown trout.

Brook trout: 10-inch size limit. Daily and possession limit is 2. **

*See paragraph entitled "Exceptions"

**See paragraph entitled "Catch & Release Brook Trout Streams"

The Dix River (Herrington Lake tailwaters) from Herrington Lake Dam downstream for two miles has been designated as a "trophy" brown trout area. A 15-inch minimum size limit and a three-fish daily and possession limit applies to brown trout taken there. Statewide size and creel limits apply to rainbows. Fishing is permitted with artificial lures and flies only. Live or organic bait may not be possessed while fishing this two-mile section of the water. The only access to this portion of the river is through the Kentucky River.

The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland from the Wolf Creek Dam downstream to the Tennessee state line is a "trophy" brown trout area. A 20-inch size limit and a one-fish daily limit applies to brown trout taken there. Statewide limits apply to rainbows.

Four Kentucky streams are catch and release only year-round and only artificial flies and lures with a single hook may be used: Dog Fork and Parched Corn Creek in Wolf County, Poor Fork from the headwaters to Hwy 932 in Letcher County and Shillalah Creek outside Cumberland Gap National Historic Park in Bell County.

Many of the streams listed in this guide are located on or adjacent to privately owned lands. Anyone entering upon or crossing private property must first have the permission of the landowner.

When you catch a fish that you don’t want to keep (even if you could legally), return it to the water as soon as possible in the best possible physical condition. Holding fish for release later (culling) is not permitted. The watchwords of catch and release are speed and gentle handling.

The ideal situation is to release the fish while it is still in the water. If this can’t be done, boat or land the fish quickly and gently. Using wet hands, wet rags or wet gloves (fish can die from infections caused by caustic acids on unprotected, dry hands,) grasp the fish and turn it upside down to immobilize it. Remove the hook carefully. If the hook is deeply imbedded, cut the line or leader. Sliding the fish back and forth in the water a few times will help it to become reoriented, and sometimes aids in its recovery.